Jury selection enters Day 3 in Zimmerman trial SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — Attorneys trying to seat a jury in George Zimmerman’s trial for shooting an unarmed teen stopped questioning a white man in his 20s Wednesday after he gave answers that indicated he wouldn’t be impartial. The juror, known as “R-39” because potential panelists can be identified only by their numbers, said that “murder is murder,” even if it’s self-defense. Zimmerman, 29, is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, claim...

Feds: Bulger at center of murder, mayhem in Boston BOSTON (AP) — A federal prosecutor said in opening statements Wednesday at James “Whitey” Bulger’s racketeering trial that the reputed mobster was at the center of “murder and mayhem” in Boston for almost 30 years, while the defense attacked the credibility of the government’s star witnesses. Prosecutor Brian Kelly told jurors that Bulger headed the violent Winter Hill Gang that “ran amok” in Boston for nearly three decades, killing 19 people,...

Committee rejects overhaul of military justice WASHINGTON (AP) — Siding with the Pentagon’s top brass, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved legislation Wednesday to keep commanders involved in deciding whether to prosecute sexual assault cases, rejecting an aggressive plan to stem sex-related crimes in the armed forces by overhauling the military justice system. By a vote of 17-9, the committee passed a bill crafted by its chairman, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., designed to increase pr...

Police seeking missing ATVDARDANELLE — Police are asking Dardanelle and surrounding area residents to be on the look out for a gray Yamaha 350 4x4 all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that was reportedly stolen Monday. A Dardanelle police report stated officer Brian Blevins responded to a call concerning a missing ATV from a residence. Investigators discovered the owner of the ATV was out of town, and a concerned friend called police to report the vehicle missing. The vehicle was...

Santa Monica gunman was mentally evaluated LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Santa Monica gunman who killed five people last week was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation in 2006 after police found bomb-making materials at his home. Police searched the house where John Zawahri lived with his father after the teen made repeated violent threats against students, teachers and campus security officers at Olympic High School, retired police officer Cristina Coria, who helped execute the search warran...

Judge won’t allow teens’ records at ex-cop’s trial LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A former Little Rock police officer charged with manslaughter failed to persuade a judge Tuesday to allow evidence about the criminal records of the three teenagers in a car he fired at when answering a burglary call last year. Jury selection is to start Monday in the trial of Josh Hastings, who was fired by the department after he fatally wounded Bobby Moore, 15, on Aug. 12 in the parking lot of an apartment complex. After ...

23 indicted for drug trafficking FORT SMITH (AP) — Federal and state authorities say 23 people have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges in western Arkansas. US Attorney Conner Eldridge in Fort Smith announced the indictments Tuesday with officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security; Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office; and police departments in Fort Smith and Van Buren. Authorities said ...

Officials: Woman approaches kids with chain saw WINFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri woman is accused of trying to scare children by approaching them with a chain saw while wearing a ski mask. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department says Lynn Marie Herzog of Winfield, Mo., is charged with felony harassment in the Sunday incident. Patricia Manker called the police after she saw Herzog yelling at her son and his friend and walking toward them with the mask and chain saw. According to a probable ca...

Bond Hearings (June 11, 2013)The following people appeared during felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear on July 22 in Pope County Circuit Court. • Ricky Stanfield, 29, possession of a firearm by a felon — $5,000. Russellville police responded to a disturbance, where officers found Stanfield loading up a car, according to an RPD report. The report sta...

Jonesboro woman charged in battery on 5-month-old JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) - A Jonesboro woman who police say struck her 5-month-old boy's head against a doorframe when he wouldn't stop crying has been charged with first-degree battery and endangering a minor. Victoria Madden, 21, appeared in court Friday before Craighead County District Judge Curt Huckaby, who set bond at $100,000 and scheduled a July 31 court date. Madden asked that Huckaby appoint a lawyer for her, and he agreed to do so. Jone...

Bond Hearings (June 8, 2013)The following people appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear on July 22 in Pope County Circuit Court. n Timothy Fowler, 33, aggravated assault — $7,500. A Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) report stated Fowler’s wife called the PCSO Friday to report Fowler had choked her during an altercation at their home...

Russellville police arrest man for alleged theftRussellville police arrested a man for taking $60,000 worth of finished stainless steel stock, used for production, from a local business and selling it as scrap. District Judge Don Bourne set bail at $15,000 for Artemio Hernandez, 20, on Friday during felony bond hearings at the Pope County Detention Center. Hernandez is being held for alleged theft of property. He is required to appear in Pope County Circuit Court on July 22. Russellville Po...

Bond Hearings (June 6, 2013)The following people appeared during felony bond hearings on Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear on July 22 in Pope County Circuit Court. • April Hubbard, 33, delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine, two counts — $7,500. Court documents stated the Fifith Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF), in cooperation with Arkansas State Police (A...

Judge sets hearing date in Conway officer death CONWAY, Ark. (AP) - A judge has set a July hearing for a man charged in the death of a Conway police officer who was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic. Circuit Judge Charles E. Clawson Jr. scheduled a July 23 hearing for 31-year-old Barry Strickland, who is charged with battery and driving while intoxicated. Strickland is accused in the Feb. 1 death of Officer William McGary, who was struck at night on Dave Ward Drive. The Log Cabin ...

Attorney general warns of telephone scam LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is issuing a warning about scammers posing as vendors of medical-alert equipment and monitoring services who he says are targeting older residents. McDaniel said Wednesday that his office has received several complaints in recent weeks about telephone calls from what is allegedly a legitimate medical alert company. He says the caller uses high-pressure sales tactics and false w...

Police: Man threatens to shoot woman, carPope County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call Sunday where they found a man who had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on his breath, and according to deputies, he was threatening to shoot a woman, and her car tires while a child was in the car. District Judge Don Bourne set bail at $7,500 for Charles Webster on Monday during felony bond hearings at the Pope County Detention Center. Webster is being held for alleged aggravated assault and endange...

Bond Hearings (June 4, 2013)The following people appeared during felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear on July 22 in Pope County Circuit Court. • Jeremy Duvall, 29, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and simultaneous possession of a firearm — $5,000. A Arkansas State Police (ASP) report stated Duvall was stopped at 10:26 p.m...

Bond Hearings (June 1, 2013)The following people appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear on July 1 in Pope County Circuit Court. • Marcia Shinn, 58, two counts delivery of a controlled substance, morphine — $5,000. A Russellville Police Department (RPD) sergeant assigned to the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force (DTF) testified Shinn was u...